CNS - Clinical Anatomy of the Eye Flashcards
Explain the eye position in predatory species
Frontal/forward facing to allow for depth perception whilst hunting/binocular vision
Explain the eye position in prey species
High up on head Lateral aspect (side of head) Greater range of vision - allows scanning of environment
Where is a rabbits (or a horses) blind spot?
Right in front of it’s mouth/teeth. Need to be aware of this for examination
How does the orbit of the eye differ between predatory and prey species e.g dog, cow, and horse?
In predators there is an incomplete bony orbit with the orbital ligament completing the orbit - allows further movement of the mandible and therefore allows the jaw to open wider.
In prey there is a complete bony orbit
- in cattle this is formed by zygomatic process of the frontal bone and frontal process of the zygomatic bone
- in horses this is formed by zygomatic processes of the frontal bone and temporal bone, and the frontal process of the zygomatic bone
What are the layers of orbital fascia?
Periorbita - periosteum/lining of the bone
Fascia bulbi - loose connective tissue. lines the sclera. lines outside of eyeball caudally. stops at junction between cornea and sclera. overlain by conjunctiva at the front
fascial sheaths of extraoccular muscles
Name the 7 extraocular muscles
Dorsal Rectus Lateral Rectus Ventral Rectus Medial Rectus Ventral Oblique Dorsal Oblique Retractor Bulbi
Which extraocular muscles are innervated by the occulomotor nerve (CNIII)?
Dorsal Rectus, Ventral Rectus, Medial Rectus, Ventral Oblique
Which extraocular muscles are innervated by the trochlear nerve (CNIV)?
Dorsal Oblique
Which extraocular muscles are innervated by the abducens nerve (CNVI)?
Lateral Rectus, Retractor Bulbi
What is strabismus?
Strabismus, more commonly known as cross-eyed or wall-eyed, is a vision condition in which an animal can not align both eyes simultaneously under normal conditions. One or both of the eyes may turn in, out, up or down
Functions of the eyelids
Removes foreign material Protects eye Blocks out light Spreads tear film Clears things towards drainage ducts
What is the purpose of the tarsal glands?
Forms the lipid component of the tear film
What is the purpose of the lipid component of the tear film?
helps to reduce spillage onto face
helps stop evaporation
What is the tarsal plate and what is it’s function?
cartilage surrounding the tarsal glands. keeps the eyelid structure from going floppy
What are the muscles responsible for closing the eye?
orbicularis oculi (sphincter muscle surround the eye)
What are the muscles responsible for opening the eye?
Levator palpebris superioris (opens eye) and levator anguli oculi (lifts up side of eyelid)
What is the motor innervation of the eyelid?
CN VII (Facial Nerve) - Levator anguli oculi and Orbicularis oculi CN III (Occulomotor Nerve) - Levator palpebrae superioris Sympathetic NS innervation of smooth muscle
What is the sensory innervation of the eyelid?
CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) - opthalmic and maxillary branches
Which regions of the eyelid are innervated by the opthalmic and maxillary trigeminal nerve branches?
Opthalmic - Most of upper eyelid, and medial lower eyelid
Maxillary - Most of lower eyelid, and lateral upper eyelid
Which species have a lacrimal caruncle?
Horses and human
How do the eyelids and sclera differ between and horse and a cat?
Cat - eyelid held tight to the globe. Very little sclera visible, and is usually white?
Horse - loose “loopy” eyelids. Lots of sclera visible but often pigmented. Very wide palpebral fissure
What type of dogs are most susceptible to palpebral abnormalities?
Brachycephalic
What is entropion?
Rolling in of the eyelid resulting in hair rubbing on the cornea.
Overly long eyelid often the cause. Slice off loose skin for surgery
What is ectropion?
Overlong eyelid so folding out.
Common in bloodhounds, mastiffs etc
Unable to sweep debris or tear film
Less catastrophic than entropion
What is a diamond eye?
Both entropion and ectropion (entropion laterally and ectropion medially)
What crucial cell type does the conjunctiva contain?
Goblet cells - mucous secretory cells
Also lots of lymphoid tissues - plentiful follicles in back of 3rd eyelid
What are the three types of conjunctiva, and what does each type cover/line?
Palpebral conjunctiva - only lines in front of the eyeball/inside of eyelid
Nictitating conjunctiva - covers the 3rd eyelid
Bulbar conjunctiva - covers the sclera
What is the ventral fornix?
Infolding of conjunctiva - contains the 3rd eyelid AKA the nictitating membrane
What are the three components of the tear film?
Aqueous (NOT AQUEOUS HUMOUR!!!)
Lipid
Mucous
What can damage to the 3rd eyelid result in?
Dry eye
The leading edge of the 3rd eyelid…
…is supported by T shaped cartilage.
…must be firmly and consistently in contact with the eye
…is supported an supplied by the gland of the 3rd eyelid
What is a cherry eye?
Prolapsed gland of the 3rd eyelid over the leading edge of the 3rd eyelid. The gland is trapped there by the tightening of the leading edge.
Can reoccur. French bulldogs are particularly prone
How would you surgically treat a cherry eye?
Make pocket, push gland into pocket, suture pocket shut.
If prolapsed due to tumour, you would cut the prolapsed gland off but the animal will require subsequent treatment for dry eyes for the rest of it’s life
What is the function of each part of the tear film and where is it produced?
Aqueous layer - from lacrimal and 3rd eyelid gland (2/3 lacrimal 1/3 eyelid).
- lubrication, protection and nutrition of corneal, limbal and conjunctival epithelium (cornea is avascular so tear film is necessary)
Mucin layer - from conjunctival goblet cells
- mixes with and stabilises aqueous layer
Lipid layer - from Meibomian/tarsal glands
- reduces evaporation and creates barrier at lid margin
What is responsible for the autonomic control of the production and distribution of tears?
CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) - Lacrimal Nerve - sympathetic and parasympathetic (get both at pterygopalatine ganglion) CN VII (Facial Nerve) - Parasympathetic
What is the process of tear drainage?
Aqueous tear film moved into palpebral fissure
Swept into medial canthus
Into Lacrimal puncti (dorsal and ventral)
These lead into canaliculi
Lacrimal canaliculi empty into nasolacrimal duct
In a normal/dog shaped dog (thanks for that Alison…), where does the nasolacrimal duct drain into?
Medial part of Nasal Punctum (it’s in the dogs nostril)
In cats and brachycephalic dog breeds, where does the nasolacrimal duct drain into?
Caudal nasopharynx. Can be checked using dye and looking at the back of the mouth
How is the lacrimal drainage system in the rabbit vulnerable?
Only one lacrimal puncta.
Runs over cheek teeth.
Reserved crown can lead to blockage of lacrimal puncta.
Also two sharp bends in the nasolacrimal duct/canaliculi so easily blocked
Where is the lacrimal caruncle, in the eye of a horse?
Medial canthus
Where are the Meibomian/tarsal glands found?
In the tarsal plate (in the eyelid)
Damage to which cranial nerves will result in loss of the palpebral reflex?
Loss of the reflex can be down to two things. Either the animal can’t feel or it can’t blink.
If it can’t feel - sensory - trigeminal nerve (CN V)
If it can’t blink - motor - facial nerve (CN VII)
What are the layers of the globe?
Fibrous layer - sclera and cornea
Vascular layer - Uvea (Iris, lens etc)
Neural layer - retina